a new chemistry

We stained the outside stucco on Saturday, September 18, with a mixture of ferrous sulfate (common fertilizer Bonide 920 Iron Sulfate) and coffee- a recipe I had been experimenting with for months. The logistical challenges of spraying what is essentially a watery substance on the house were not trivial. And who could have predicted that the rains would start on Monday morning and not end until late Thursday? Because the reaction is a chemical one and not really a stain, the result took a couple weeks to become manifest and we were unhappy with the toll taken by the rains and our inability to fully control the process. Nonetheless, parts of the house were exactly as I had envisioned and I believed the rest to be redeemable. I asked Terry to give me a month and, if he still wasn’t happy with the result (afterall, he has built this little gem), we would paint. For me, the concept of the color emerging from the house over time, the idea that the house decides what it will be, is very appealing. So, I have been working on the areas I can access, hand-sponging the stain, much like washing the face of a child you love, with a sense of wonder and awe. An intimacy exists between me and this house, me and this land. The first photo is the house the day of the stain. Note that the mixture goes on green and takes about a week to develop. This is the house a week after a “retouch”.

Some doubted the wisdom of a fertilizer and coffee stain for the house.

How much more so, then, a metal ceiling for the downstairs? While I agree that a rusty ceiling is not to everyone’s taste, this has turned out to be perfectly aligned with my vision.

We purchased 4’X8’ sheets of flat corten (A606) metal from Corten Roofing out of Phoenix.

This metal is made using a special formula that includes copper and nickel which allows rusting to take place quickly, forming a dense layer of beautiful burgundy rust that prevents further rusting underneath. Luke Olfield, from Mile High Enterprises in Bisbee, who did my beautiful corten balcony roof, took this on.

Luke had the metal panels laminated to plywood so the ceiling wouldn’t warp, and trimmed the whole thing with C channel. I accelerated the rusting process using a simple formula of vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and salt. I experienced a few glitches along the way (do not spray a rusting ceiling with water!).

Corten ceiling trimmed with neutralized C channel

The C channel did not rust as nicely as the corten, so I painted with with a rust neutralizer that turns the rust black.

This too has turned out well.

More about the solar soon................ .